NHL Recap April 14, 2024 – JARVIS, AHO HELP HURRICANES STAY IN PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY RACE

Seth Jarvis (2-0—2) and Sebastian Aho (1-0—1) combined for three consecutive goals in the third period to help Carolina rally against Chicago and stay in the Presidents’ Trophy Race. The Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points) moved one point back of the Rangers (54-23-4, 112 points) for top spot in the NHL standings; both clubs have one game remaining in the regular season.

• Aho bumped his totals to 36-53—89 (78 GP) and will enter Carolina’s final regular-season game with a chance to become just the fifth different player in Hurricanes/Whalers history to reach the 90-point mark in a campaign. Eric Staal (45-55—100 in 2005-06) is the only player to do so in Hurricanes team history to date.
• Jarvis scored his 12th and 13th power-play goals of 2023-24 and tied Aho (13 in 2021-22) for the most in a single season by an active player with the Hurricanes. Jarvis also recorded his ninth game-winning goal of 2023-24, one back of Aho’s franchise record set this season.

HERTL COMPLETES VEGAS’ THREE-GOAL THIRD-PERIOD COMEBACK IN OVERTIME
William Karlsson tallied twice while Tomas Hertl capped off a string of four straight goals for Vegas with the overtime winner to help the Golden Knights complete their third three-goal comeback win in franchise history (also Jan. 4, 2020 at STL & March 26, 2022 at CHI). Vegas improved to 44-28-8 (96 points) and is now one point back of Los Angeles, which currently occupies the third seed in the Pacific Division – both clubs have two games remaining this season and either can finish in the No. 3 spot.

• The Golden Knights completed the 26th three-goal comeback win this season, which surpasses 1985-86 for the second most in NHL history behind only 1989-90 (30). The victory also marked Vegas’ third multi-goal, third-period comeback win in 2023-24, which is the most in a campaign for the club.
• Karlsson reached the 30-goal mark for the second time in his career, both which came as a member of the Golden Knights (also 43 in 2017-18). He joined Jonathan Marchessault as the second player in franchise history to record multiple 30-goal seasons.
• The first-ever MultiVersus NHL Face-Off broadcast was a special collaboration between TNT Sports, Warner Bros. Games and the NHL, who joined forces to bring viewers a clash of excellence in hockey and real-time animation. The animated presentation used the League’s innovative NHL EDGE tracking technology to recreate the action on the ice as it happens in real-time.

ISLANDERS CAN CLINCH WHILE RANGERS LOOK TO LOCK UP PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY

The last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference are still up for grabs heading into the final week of the regular season as four of the five clubs vying for those positions – the Detroit Red Wings, Islanders, Penguins and Capitals – all hit the ice at the same time during Monday’s eight-game slate. Meanwhile, the Rangers can secure their fourth Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history with a win against the Senators.

• The Islanders (37-27-16, 90 points), who enter play occupying third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 6-1-0 record over the past seven games, can clinch a playoff berth with a victory against the Devils. New York could also secure a berth with one point versus New Jersey AND a Detroit loss OR a Washington loss. Alternatively, the Islanders could lose and still lock up a postseason position if any of the following occurs: (1) the Red Wings lose to the Canadiens in regulation AND the Capitals lose to the Bruins in regulation; (2) the Red Wings lose to the Canadiens in regulation AND the Penguins lose to the Predators in any fashion; (3) the Capitals lose to the Bruins in regulation AND the Penguins lose to the Predators in any fashion.
• The Capitals (38-31-11, 87 points) enter Monday in the second Wild Card spot and while they can’t yet punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Alex Ovechkin (852-697—1,549 in 1,424 GP) enters play three helpers shy from becoming the seventh active skater from reaching the 700-assist milestone.
• The Rangers (54-23-4, 112 points) can clinch their fourth Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history (also 2014-15, 1993-94 & 1991-92) with a win and establish a club record for points in a season in the process. New York’s most recent Stanley Cup victory came on the heels of a Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign that saw the Rangers post 112 points in 1993-94.

WEEK AHEAD FEATURES MORE NOTEWORTHY TELECASTS
More notable stats to look forward to through the final week of the regular season on the national telecasts:

Tuesday, April 16: Maple Leafs at Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

• This could be a locked-in First Round preview by the end of Monday’s games – the Panthers have already secured home ice in the First Round (No. 1 or No. 2 seed) while the Maple Leafs will finish as the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division to face either Florida or Boston. The clubs are led by Auston Matthews (69) and Sam Reinhart (55), who currently sit first and second in goals across the League.

Wednesday, April 17: Maple Leafs at Lightning (7 p.m. ET on TNT, Max, truTV, SN, TVAS)

• Nikita Kucherov (43-98—141) can become the fourth player in NHL history to record 100-plus assists in a season and first in more than 30 years – he would join Wayne Gretzky (11x, last: 122 in 1990-91), Mario Lemieux (114 in 1988-89) and Bobby Orr (102 in 1970-71), assuming Connor McDavid (99 assists entering April 14) doesn’t beat him to the mark.

Wednesday, April 17: Blues at Stars (9:30 p.m. ET on TNT, Max, truTV)

• The Stars are currently vying for their fifth conference title and first since 2015-16 (also 1997-98, 1998-99 & 2002-03). Dallas is also pushing for its first Presidents’ Trophy in 25 years after back-to-back wins in 1997-98 and 1998-99. They are among a group of eight teams to win the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season after doing so in 1998-99. The Stars will face either the Golden Knights, Kings or Predators in the First Round.

Thursday, April 18: Oilers at Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, SN1, TVAS)

• Nathan MacKinnon (51-87—138) sits three points back of Nikita Kucherov (43-98—141) for the lead in the Art Ross Trophy race (both with two games remaining). There have been three seasons in the past 30 years in which the Art Ross Trophy winner claimed the award by breaking a tie or climbing the rankings on the final day of the regular season (2014-15, 2002-03 & 1994-95). If MacKinnon or Connor McDavid (31-99—130 in 74 GP) reach the 140-point mark, the 2023-24 campaign would be the seventh in League history with multiple 140-point players (after 1995-96, 1992-93, 1988-89, 1987-88, 1985-86 & 1981-82).

RED WINGS RECALL VILLE HUSSO FROM CONDITIONING LOAN

The Detroit Red Wings have recalled goaltender Ville Husso from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Husso, 29, has made 19 appearances with the Red Wings during the 2023-24 season, posting a 9-5-2 record with a 3.55 goals-against average and an 0.892 save percentage. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound goaltender also stopped all 25 shots he faced with the Griffins on Jan. 26 against the Belleville Senators during a previous conditioning stint. Husso spent the entire 2022-23 campaign with the Red Wings, logging a 26-22-7 record with a 3.11 goals-against average, an 0.896 save percentage and four shutouts in 56 games

Matthews, Josi and Kadri Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi and Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending April 14.

FIRST STAR – AUSTON MATTHEWS, C, TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Matthews – who now is one tally shy of the 15th 70-goal season in NHL history and first since 1992-93 – shared the League lead with five goals in four starts (5-2—7) as the Maple Leafs (46-24-10, 102 points) completed a 2-1-1 week to lock up the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division. Matthews scored in all four of his appearances to extend his goal streak to eight games dating to March 30 (10-3—13) and point streak to 14 contests dating to March 19 (14-11—25) – each a career high. He posted 1-1—2 in both a 3-2 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins April 8 and a 5-2 triumph over the New Jersey Devils April 9. Matthews (2-0—2) then recorded his 18th multi-goal performance of the season – the most by any player since Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93 (24 w/ BUF) – to surpass Dave Keon for sole possession of third place on Toronto’s all-time goals list as the team suffered a 6-5 defeat to New Jersey April 11. Matthews added another marker in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings April 13 to move within one of the first 70-goal season since Mogilny (76-51—127 in 77 GP) and Teemu Selanne (76-56—132 in 84 GP w/ WIN) each achieved the feat in 1992-93. The 26-year-old Matthews, already a two-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner (2021-22 and 2020-21), holds a 14-goal edge through 79 total contests in 2023-24 (69-38—107). He also ranks among this season’s leaders in even-strength goals (1st; 51 – a franchise record and the most by any player since 1992-93), shots on goal (4th; 352), power-play goals (t-4th; 18), plus/minus (t-5th; +35), points (6th; 107), shooting percentage (7th; 19.6% – minimum: 1 SOG/GP) and game-winning goals (t-10th; 8).

SECOND STAR – ROMAN JOSI, D, NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Josi led defensemen and placed fourth in the NHL with 2-5—7 in three games as the Predators (47-29-5, 99 points) went 2-0-1 to secure their 16th playoff berth in the past 20 seasons. He collected a pair of third-period assists (including his 80th point of 2023-24) as Nashville rallied to earn its postseason-clinching point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets April 9. Josi then reached the 60-assist milestone for the second time (also 2021-22: 23-73—96 in 80 GP) with another helper in a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks April 12. He capped the week with 2-2—4, his eighth career four-point performance and first since Nov. 17, 2022 (0-4—4 vs. NYI), in a 6-4 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets April 13. The 33-year-old Josi, who captured the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2019-20, sits third among defensemen – and 22nd in the entire League – with 23-62—85 through 81 total contests this season. Only two other active blueliners have produced multiple 80-point campaigns: Erik Karlsson and Cale Makar, both with two.

THIRD STAR – NAZEM KADRI, C, CALGARY FLAMES

Kadri paced the NHL with 4-4—8 in four games to propel the Flames (37-38-5, 79 points) to a trio of victories. He notched 1-1—2 (including the tying goal with 5:09 remaining in regulation and an assist on the overtime winner) in a 3-2 triumph versus the San Jose Sharks April 9 before being held off the scoresheet in a 4-1 defeat against the Los Angeles Kings April 11. Kadri rebounded with consecutive three-point performances, collecting 1-2—3 in a 6-3 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks April 12 and 2-1—3 (highlighted by a pair of third-period goals, including the game-winner) in a 6-5 victory against the Arizona Coyotes April 14. The 33-year-old Kadri leads the Flames with 29-45—74 through 80 total appearances in 2023-24, his second-most productive campaign across his 15 NHL seasons (after 2021-22: 28-59—87 in 71 GP w/ COL).